Engraver&#39;s instrument.



L. FOX.

ENGRAVERS INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETB-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

L. POX.

ENGRAVERS INSTRUMENT APPL'IGATION FILED NOV. 27 1912. 1,084,326.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0.,wAsH|NuTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEO FOX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ENGRAVERS INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Engravers Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an instrument, particularly for engravers use, for producing parallel lines, or irregular or wavy lines which are in effect parallel, in a rapid and mechanical manner. It makes use of a principle of construction and operation known in drafting instruments called section-liners. wherein a rule mounted on a rod is advanced in a step-by-step manner by a clutch member on the rod cooperating with a stop to limit the forward movement of the clutch, each advance being held by a device which prevents retrograde movement of the rod while the clutch member is moved backward to get a fresh grip thereon.

The object of this invention is to produce a device whereina suitable line guide may be shifted quickly and conveniently by unequal steps or spaces, without necessitating stop-adjustment between advances of the rod. To this end I provide a plural selective clutch and stop mechanism, so that the rod may be advanced a greater or a less or an intermediate, or in fact any predetermined distance, by operating the appropriate clutch and causing it to contact with the appropriate stop. Such selective mechanism may comprise a single clutch and a plurality of stops, the clutch member being shiftable so as to bring up against any one of the steps, which are set or adjusted beforehand to different distances; or two or more independent clutches may be mounted on the rod with corresponding stops, in which event operation of one clutch will advance the rod a certain distance while operation of the other will. advance it a different distance. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of clutches and a plurality of differently adjusted stops for one or each of the clutches. In any one of these ways any suitable number of fixed spacings may be provided for; by which I mean that these spacings are established before the operation of drawing or graving the lines commences. By making the stops adjustable, the relation or ratio be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 27, 1912.

Patented J an. 13, 1914.

Serial No. 733,728.

tween the spacings may be anything desired. In addition to these pre adjusted steps which are not or need not be disturbed during the operation of the device, another stop may be provided, having means for adjusting it by definite amounts so as to produce fine graduations in addition to the predetern'lined unequal spacings. These and various other features and objects of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the device; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4t is a section on the line of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing how detach able edge pieces may be applied to the line guide member; Fig. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a sect-ion on the line 9--9 of Fig. 6.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 will first be described. The numeral 10 indicates a suitable flat base or support, preferably a metal plate, on which the other parts are mounted, and which in turn may be rigidly secured or clamped to the work surface. A square rod 11 is mounted to slide in corresponding bearings 12 on the support. I have discovered that an angular rod is very desirable in this connection, because it greatly increases the solidity and strength of the apparatus, with consequent greater accuracy. The rod is preferably formed in two sections, connected by a screw joint, as indicated at 13, for convenience in shipping. A rule or line guide 14 is mounted on the rod so as to be advanced by and with the latter. The line guide is preferably removable and replaceable, so that any one of a number of guides having differentedges may be employed, and a hinge connection is provided between the guide and the rod, so that the guide may be swung back away from the work. To these ends a bracket or hinge 15 is mounted on a cylin drical bearing portion or portions of the rod, and is provided with a slot 18, by means of which the guide 14 is clamped to the bracket by the aid of bolts and nuts 17. The line guide 14- is clamped to the under side of the bracket 15 and has a straight edge 18, which travels along a straight edge 19 of the support 10. In this way the line guide let and the bar 11 are afforded solid lateral support, so as to further increase the solidity and ac curacy of the device. The slot 16 enables the line guide 14 to be set with the edge 18 in contact with the edge 19. A handle 20 on the line guide atlords convenient means for swinging the latter upward. The upper edge 21 of the part 14, which guides the graving or marking tool, may be straight or wavy or irregular, according to the character of the line desired. I find that by merely leavin this edge rough the lines produced have the slight irregularity characteristic of free-hand lines, so that the result has the appearance of hand-work. In its preferred form the line guide is triangular, having the guide edge 21 and the bearing edge 18 at right angles to each other, and its remaining edge extending diagonally so as to cover as little as possible of the work. A springpressed clutch or grip device 22 is located above the lower bearing 12 and serves to prevent retrograde or upward movement of the rod 11, except when the clutch is moved forward against the pressure of its spring 23. The clutch 22 may be simply a small, metal plate with a square opening, receiving and slightly larger than the rod 11 and having its lower edge fulcrumed in a groove 24. This plate is normally pressed rearward by its spring, so that any tendency of the rod to move rearward is prevented by the edges of the opening in the clutch biting or gripping its upper and lower surfaces. A clutch member 25 is mounted on the rod immediately in front of the upper bearing 12, against which it is normally held by a spring 26, which encircles the rod and is in terposed between the clutch member and a plate or block 27 that rises from the base. A series of stops 28 are provided for selective engagement by the clutch member 25, and these stops may all be adjustably supported by the block 27 As is shown, they comprise screws having threaded engagement with openings through the block and suitably arranged, so that the clutch member may contact with any one of them without interference by the others. There may be any number of these stops according to the number of pre-adjusted difierentiated spacings that may be desired. The clutch member 25 is laterally shiftable or rotatable about the axis of the rod in order to be positioned so as to contact with any one of the stops. To this end the clutch member comprises two parts, a clutch proper 29, preferably in the form of a circular plug or socket member having a square or approximately square opening for the reception of the rod, and a handle and contact part 30 in which the part 29 is inserted, the part 30 being rotatable on the part 29.

The operation of the clutch member 25 in advancing the rod requires no particular explanation. Then the handle 30 is grasped and pulled forward the clutch 29 is tilted slightly on the rod 11, so that diagonallyopposite edges of its square opening grip opposite faces of the rod, so that the latter is advanced with the clutch member by the operation of the hand. This advance is held by the clutch device 22 at the opposite end of the support, as already explained and well understood. The forward move ment of the clutch member 25, and cons-e quent-ly of the rod 11 and the line guide 14:, is limited by the clutch member contacting with one of the stops. Upon release of the operating clutch member by the hand the spring 26 restores it to normal position, the clutch slipping loosely along the rod without binding, because the spring acts upon the clutch member immediately adjacent the rod. According as the stops 28 are adjusted beforehand the line guide may be advanced according to any predetermined or desired scheme of irregular spacing. Thus, practically any design or shading may be produced. It will be seen that adjustment of the stops 28 between movements of the device is not necessary for securing the irregular spacing, all that is required being to swing the handle 30 to one position or another, which can be done very easily and quickly. In order to provide for sectionlining, another stop 31 is located so as to cooperate with the clutch member 25. In the particular construction shown it comprises a screw 32 having threaded engagement with a projection 34 on the base and a reduced guide extension 35 sliding and turn ing in a bearing 36. Intermediate its supports the stop carries an operating wheel 37, which has equidistant notches 38, the lat ter being engaged by a spring click or detent 39. The latter is shown as being formed of a piece of thin spring metal secured to the base and having a crimp 40 which takes into the notches 38. In this way the stop 3% can be quickly and easily adjusted small definite equal amounts. The click or yielding detent 39 affords indicating means apprising the operator of the distance through which the threaded stop has been turned.

The use of the difi'erent kinds of stops is as follows: The engraving or marking tool is drawn along the edge 21 of the guide 14 to produce a line. The clutch member 25 is then operated to advance the device the desired distance, according to the stop 28 with which the clutch member 25 is caused to contact. Another line is then made, being separated from the preceding line by the predetermined distance. The spring 26 restores the clutch member 25 to normal position, and the clutch member may be again operated to advance the line guide the same distance as before or a different distance, according as the clutch member is positioned to contact with the same stop or with a different stop 28. After any one of these lines has been made a series of equally-spaced closely adjacent lines may be produced by aid of the stop 82. The latter is adjusted so that its end is separated from the clutch member 25 only by a slight distance, say a distance corresponding to one division on the wheel 37. Consequently if the clutch member 25 is advanced until it contacts with the stop 32 the line guide 14k will be advanced only a slight distance. This may be repeated a number of times, so that a corresponding number of lines are made all close together, and then the clutch member may be swung so as to contact with one of the stops 28 on its next movement, with the result that a larger space will be left between this series of finely separated lines and the next line or series of lines. Clearly the section lines may be made farther apart or closer together, according as the stop 28 is adjusted farther or nearer the operating clutch member 25. That is to say, the contact end of the stop may be located at a distance from the clutch member corresponding to one, two, three, or any number of divisions on the wheel, and there will be a corresponding distance between the section lines. In one part of the work it may be desirable to have section lines close together and in another part it may be desirable to have them more separated. This may be conveniently accomplished by turning the stop 32 a suitable number of divisions.

The stop 32 may not only be used for section-lining in the manner just described, but also for securing different degrees of spacing in addition to those provided by the pie-adjusted stops 28. Thus, if there are four of the latter they provide for four different spacings. If during the progress of the work other spacings are desired, these can readily be secured by adj usting the stop 3 1 so that its contact end is at the desired distance from the clutch member 25. This adiustment is effected very quickly and with certainty, and the operator can tell both by sense of touch and by hearing how much he has adjusted this stop.

In order to increase the accuracy of the device and to guard against accidental forward or advance movement of the rod, I provide another holding clutch 41, this clutch being shown as located in front of the block 27. It is similar to the clutch 22, but is pressed in the opposite direction by its spring 42. It is extended upward sufiiciently to be engaged conveniently by the hand of the operator and being located adjacent the clutch member 25 both of these parts may be grasped simultaneously and moved toward each other, so that the clutch 411 is caused to release the rod at the same time that the latter is advanced by the clutch member 25.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 is in general similar to that just described, and certain parts and features desi gnated by the same reference numerals will not again be referred to. The rod 11 shown in this construction is cylindrical and slides in circular bearings 12 on the base 10. Since the rod 11 is rotatable in its bearings it is not necessary to connect the line guide 14,: with the rod by hinge connection, and consequently the bracket 15 is fixed rigidly to the rod. This construction shows the use of two independent operating clutch members 25 and 25 which have circular openings and are rotatable on the rod to contact with diiferent stops. These clutch members are or may be one-piece devices. The clutch member 25 is held in normal position by its spring 26*, and the clutch member 25 is similarly urged against an intermediate abutment 4 1 by means of a spring 26 The clutch member 25 may be caused to contact with a pie-adjustable stop 28 having thread ed engagement with the abutment 44:, and the clutch member 25" may contact with any one of two pre-adjustable stops 28 mounted in a block 27. A stop 31. similar to the same stop of the other construction is mounted on the base 10 to be engaged by the clutch member 25 It will be obvious that any suitable number of pie-adjustable stops 28, 28 may be provided. The operation of this form of the invention will be obvious from the previous description. The holding clutch device 22" of this form of the invention is similar to the member 22 of the other construction, except that the opening through it is preferably circular or substantially circular. Means are provided for locking the rod against movement in either direction. To this end a set screw 51 is shown threaded into one of the bearings 12 or 12, so as to bear against the rod. \Vhen this set screw is tightened it clamps the rod, which is thereby rendered immovable.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, means may be provided, in the nature of set screws 50, for locking the pro-adjustment stops in any position. Such provision is useful in case it is desired to use the same spacings for different pieces of work. Obviously similar looking means may be applied to the stops 28 of Figs. 1 to 3.

As shown in Fig. 5 removable and replaceable edge members 52 may be applied to the line guide 14 in order to secure different line effects. It will be understood that a number of line guides 14; may be provided having different edges, so that when a different kind of line is desired this part is replaced by another; or each apparatus may have only one line guide 1 t and variation of the ruling edge may be secured by removable pieces 52.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an engravers instrument or the like, the Combination of a support having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for pre venting retrograde movement of the rod, and plural selective clutch and stop mechanism for advancing said rod different predetermined distances.

2. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of the rod, a springurged manually operated clutch member for advancing the rod in a stepby-step manner, and a plurality of stops to limit the movement of said 111111b1,'tl16 latter being shif able to contact with one or other thereof at will.

3. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support, having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of the rod, a spring urged manually operated clutch member for advancing the rod, said member being mounted so as to swing laterally as well as move longitudinally of the rod, and a plurality of stops to limit the longitudinal movement of said member arranged to be contacted thereby according as the member is swung to one position or another.

at. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of the rod, clutch mechanism for advancing said rod different predetermined distances, and aclamp for locking the rod against movement in either direction.

In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a. support having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a line guide carried thereby, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of the rod, and selective clutch and stop mechanism for advancing said rod in a step-by-step manner, said mechanism including a plurality of stops adapted to be adjusted beforehand for different spacings and a stop with adjusting and indicating means for adjusting it by definite small amounts for section-lining.

6. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support having rod bearings, a rod slidably guided therein, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of the rod, a spring urged manually operated clutch means for advancing said rod, a plurality of stops cooperating with said clutch means and adjustable beforehand for differ ent spacings, and a section-lining stop also adapted to be contacted by the clutch means.

7. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of an angular rod, a support having angular bearings in which said rod is slidably guided, a line guide carried by said rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of said rod, a springurged manually-operated clutch member for advancing said rod, and a stop for limiting the movement thereof.

8. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of an angular rod, a sup port having angular bearings in which said rod is slidably guided, a line guide carried by said rod, a hinge connection between said line guide and the rod, holding means for preventing retrograde movement of said rod, a spring-urged manually-operated clutch member for advancing said rod, and a stop for limiting the movement thereof.

9. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support having rod bearings, an angular rod slidably guided therein, a clutch on said rod spring-urged in one direction, a plurality of stops to limit the movement of the clutch and rod, and an operating and contact member mounted rotatably on said clutch to contact with one or other of said stops at will.

10. In an engravers instrument or the like, the combination of a support having rod bearings, a rod guided therein, a springurged manually-operated clutch member for advancing said rod, a stop to limit the movement of said clutch member, and a springurged clutch member normally preventing advancing movement of the rod, the two clutch members being positioned adjacent to each other so that both may be grasped by the hand in operating the instrument.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of November, 1912.

LEO FOX.

Witnesses G. H. EMPEY, ARTHUR Vinson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

